176-10036-10137, | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM
IDENTIFICATION FORM
AGENCY : NARA
RECORD NUMBER : 176-10036-10137 a -
RECORD SERIES : National Security Files
AGENCY FILE NUMBER :
ORIGINATOR : CIA
FROM:
TO:
TITLE : CIA Information Report
DATE : 10/8/1963
PAGES : 5S
SUBJECTS : i
DOCUMENT TYPE :
CLASSIFICATION :
RESTRICTIONS :
CURRENT STATUS :
DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 9/10/2000
OPENING CRITERIA :
COMMENTS : National Security Files, Box 200: Vietnam,10/6/1963-10/14/63. Box 2

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

Thin material contains Information affecting the National Delonte of the United Stotes within the maaning of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, USC Secs

13 and 794, tha trantmission o¢ ravelatios of which ia any manner to an unauthoried carson Is prohibited by law.

CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
C-OoN-P-T-D-B-N-TelwAeL - NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD BACKROUID
USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISSEM

counray SOUTH VIETNAM | | REPORTNO. TOCS DB~3/657,133

sugject) SITUATION APPRAISAL AS OF 5 OCTOBER 1963 ~~ bate pistr, 8 OCTOEER 1963
. . PRECEDENCE : ROUIENE

DATE OF | oe So REFERENCES : IN 33775

INFO. . , . a .

PLACE &

DATE ACO, VIETNAM, SAIGON (5 OOTORER 1963)

APPRAISAL COMMENTARY . "FIELD REPORT NO.

THis is UNEVALUATED INFORMATION, SOURCE GRADINGS ARE DEFINITIVE, APPRAISAL OF CONTENT 1S TENTATIVE.
source STAFF OFFICERS OF THIS ORGANIZATION. : we
_ “1. ‘THIS Is A FIELD APPRAISAL OF THE CURRENT SITUATION. 2 IS NOT AN. -
OFFICIAL JUDGEMENT BY THIS AGENCY OR ANY COMPONENT. If REPRESENTS THE.
OBSERVATIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS OF STAFF OFFICERS BASED ON INFORMATION “AVALLAELE.
TO THEM AT THE TIME OF ITs FREPARATION - PREPARED FOR INTERNAL USE “AS. A GUILE TO
THE OPERATTONAL ENVIRONMENT, THIS. COMMENTARY IS DISSEMINATED: IN THE BELIEF THA:
mr MAY EE USEFUL TO OTHER AGENCIES IN ASSESSING THE SITUATION: FOR THEIR OWN
PURPOSES. 7

2, THE MOST STRIKING FEATURE OF THE INTELLIGENCE REPORTS FOR THE WHEX OF
29 SEPTEMBER-5 OCTOBER 1963, HAS BEEN A GREATER DEPTH OF REPORTING ON CQUP. .
PLOTTING, PROVIDING INFORMATION IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL AS TO THE PERSONALITIES
INVOLVED AND THEIR ALLOTIED ROLES. STILL LACKING, HOWEVER, IS SOLID INPORMATION

AS TO THE COHESIVENESS OF VARICUS GRCUPS REPORTED READY TO LAUNCH A CCUP AND &

‘7 © CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS mon
O-ON-PoI -D-E-N-T-1-A-L —_ NO_FORETGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM & OAD/BACKGROUND | szcia st
Use Gey) CO ncLts DIDEE “BROAD Le

ESSAY ZN EG AC CO TT
, AGELINFORMAT LON REPORT

PER” 1 Kb OBSOLETE PREVIOUS ECTTONS. ; (15-23;

CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS
C-0-N-F-1-D-E-N-T-I-A-L —

NO. FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD
BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED
, DISSEM

THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY ENJOY FIRM LEADERSHIP: AT THE TOP OF THE: ICEBERG. OF WHICH
WE ARE STILL CETTING ONLY TANGENTIAL: ‘GLIMPSES.
3, THE GENERALS MEANWHILE ARE NOW PRESSING PRESIDENT. NGO DINH DIEM FOR A

REPLY TO THE DEMANDS MADE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO DURING THE HEIGHT OF. THE MARTIAL -

LAW ‘PHASE. AS DESCRIBED BY GENERAL TRAN van DON, THE. LIST OF DEMANDS ARB. QUITE
EXTENSIVE, INCLUDING THE ASSIGNMENT OF MILITARY MEW: TO THE POSTS OF MINISTERS. =. :.:

OF DEFENSE, INTERIOR, CIVIC ACTION AND EDUCATION. THEY ALSO ASKED FOR CONTROL «... ve
OF ‘oa SAIGON /CHOLON POLICE AND. THE PLACEMENT OF THE ‘CAPITAL REGION: UNDER A ; a age
PERMANENT MILITARY GOVERNORSHIP. DON SAYS THAT HE AND HIS FELLOW: ‘GENERAL : OFFICERS

DO Nor EXPECT ‘DIEM TO ACCEDE TO THIS PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS, -ACCEPTANCE -OF WHICH ::

WOULD INDEED “AMOUNT TOA VIRTUAL ‘SURRENIER oN. THE PART OF DIEM AND NGO -DINH NHU.

THE LATTER WILL PROBABLY GO. PART WAY, HOWEVER, IN MEETING THE TESTRES:, OF THE an
MILITARY IN AN EFFORT TO DETER THE LATIER FROM- ATTEMPTING. AN: BARLY: COUP: THEIR.
TACTIC IS LIKELY TO BE ONE OF SEEKING TO. ENMESH THE GENERALS: IN ‘TIME-CONSUMING
NEGOTIATIONS RELATED TO ‘THE PROSPECTIVE REVAMPING. OF THE GoveERmeEN? WI HA VIEW
“TOWARD GAINING TIME IN WHICH TO MONITOR AND BREAK UP ANY COUP COMBINATION WHICH

MAY BE DEVELOPING. THE ourcome OF MANEUVERING BETWEEN DIEM AND NHU AND ‘THE:

- MELTTARY DURING THE COMING FEW WEEKS, OR POSSIBLY EVEN DAYS, Is LIKELY TO BE
OF TECISIVE IMPORTANCE TO FUTURE COURSE OF EVENTS IN SOUTH VIETNAM.
4, DESPITE THE ‘TMPRESSION OF THE, RETURN TO NORMALITY THAT IS BEING FOSTERED
BY THE REGIME, THE ATMOSPHERE IN: SAIGON CONTINUES TO BE PERVADED 70 A CONSTIERABLE

DEGREE ‘BY FEAR “AND UNCERTAINTY. ARRESTS REPORTEDLY ARE CONTINUING, ‘AS wet’ AS

CLASSIFICATION - DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

C-O-N-F-I-D--N-T-I-A-L ‘NO FOREIGN DISSEM /NO. DISSEM i ABROAD/RACKGROUND USE oy
Tae ROLLED DISSEM

oe LOR ON cannons #

CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

_.. aw | NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABRG

C-OsN-F-I-D-B-N-T-I-A-L BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED
DISSEM

bcs DB-3/657,133

SEARCHES OF PRIVATE HOMES BY THE SECURITY FORCES. a .
7 5. |THERE ARE SCATTERED. INDICATIONS ‘THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM (Gyn) Is
PLANNING TO SPRING SOME SURPRISES, ON THE .26 OCTOBER NATIONAL, DAY CELEBRATIONS,
HU,’ FOR EXAMPLE, TS, REPORTED TQ HAVE TOLD THE GENERALS THAT IN A FEW WEEKS BE.
‘Wout UNDERTAKE AN UNSPECIFIED ACTION OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL NATURE. WHICH. NEITHER
“THE WEALTHY NOR ‘THE AMERICANS. WOULD LIKE." WE ALSO HAVE A REPORT ‘THAT SWEEPING.
CHANG! IN THE POLICE AND CIVIL INTELLIGENCE COMPLEX WILL-.OCCUR. MORE FRIVOLOUS
_ BUT PERHAPS, SUGGESTIVE OF THE DESIRE BY THE REGIME TO.FASE THE CURRENT ATMOSPHERE
IN SAIGON ARE THE. RUMORS THAT THE BAN ON DANCING WILL. BE. LIFIED., , NATTONAL, DAY.
WOULD.E THE LOGICAL TIME FOR DIEM TO ANNOUNCE, REVAMPING OF. HIS. GOVERNMENT, . PROVIDEL
THIS DELICATE OPERATION CAN BE COMPLETED INTIME. 0 eieeetne st ty ad
_ 6, A STRIKING. THING ABOUT THE. ELECTIONS WAS THE. FACT THAT. THEY. WENT. OFF.
VIRTUALLY WETHOUD, INCIIEND, EITHER. IN SAIGON OR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE..,.THERE HAD
_EBEN SEVERAL INDICATIONS. THAT THE VIET.CONG (VC) INTENDED DISRUPTION .AS A, COMPANION
TACTIC TO THEIR ‘PROPAGANDA CALL FOR TRE: ‘BOYCOTT, OF THE. ELECTIONS. NEITHER DURING
THE ELECTIONS, NOR DURING THE PRECEDING BUDDHIST CRISIS, DID THE. COMMUNISTS SEEM
‘ABE 1 TO. CAPITALIZE ON THEIR IMMEDIATE: OPPORTUNITIES. -ESPHCIALLY LACKING WAS THE
[DERCISE OF THEIR, MUCH VAUNTIED CAPABILITIES FOR TERRORISM, RAISING. SOME QUESTION

was
IN OUR ‘MINDS. AS TO. WHETHER vc. ABILITY. TO USE TERRORISM IN CITIES/AS GREAT AS WE

HAD BEEN LED TO. BELIEVE. IT, WAS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TQ MEASURE. THE SUCCESS OF
THE VC BOYCOTT APPEAL. SINCE. THE GVN, IN ‘MANY: AREAS | MORE. OR LESS FORCED THE. ELECTORATE

_ T0.VOTE AND IN AREAS WHERE ITS CONTROL WAS . Nor THAT. * STRONG, THE REGIME. ALMOST...
. CERTAINLY FALSIFIED THE PERCENTAGES OF THE VOTE. a - j

. CLASSIFICATION = DISSEMINATION CONTROLS a

: 0-0-N-PoI-D-E-N-Pol-AcL, _ NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/BACKGROUND USE owLy/”

CONTROLLED DISSEM


: CLASSIFICATION = DISSEMINATION CONTROLS, 1, wre ~ uo . . mY
- NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD, TDCS 9B-3/657,133 - }
C-O-N-F-I-D-B-N-T-I-A-L BACKGROUND USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISGEM - :

4. ONE INDICATION OF THE REGIME" iS) INCREASED CONFIDENCE THAT IT HAS; oe,

OF SPECIAL FORCES ° "TROOPS FOR OPERATIONS AGAINST THE VC.

8. _ ALTHOUGH MOMENTARILY (QUIESCENT BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY GVW. SECURITY. _CONTROLS,
THE STUDENTS CONTINUE THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL. AOTIVITIES AND ARE DEVELOPING. PLANS For |
FURTHER ACTION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. THERE APPEARS TO HE CONSIDERABLE DIVISION
OF OPINION AMONG THE VARIOUS STUDENT GROUPS, SOME OF WHICH EXISTED PRIOR TO THE
BUDDHIST CRISIS AND SOME HAVE SINCE ‘EMERGED. REPORTING RECEIVED TO DATE WOULD,
INDICATE THAT THE VC HAVE NOT Yer MADE SIGNIFICANT INROADS INTO THE STUDENT MOVE-
MENT, ALTHOUGH THIS 18 OF COURSE AN INCREASING. POSSIBILITY IP. RELATIONS. BETWEEN
THE ‘STULENTS AND THE GVN LONG REMAIN IN THEIR PRESENT UNSATISFACTORY STATE. IN
PARTICULAR, WE HAVE LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE THESIS THAT THE STUDENTS ARE.
FLEEING/THE COUNTRYSIIE TO JOIN rH ve ALTHOUGH SOME REPORTEDLY DID LEAVE SATGON
AND HUE 10 AVOID ARREST DURING THE PERIOD OF. THE GOVERNMENT CRACKDOWN. ti.

9. A-REPORT FROM ‘A VIETNAMESE TRAE uvtow, OFFICIAL PROVIDES ADDITIONAL -.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE NEU-MANELT MEETING IN EARLY SEPTEMBER AND ON, THE
GENERAL SUBJECT. OF POSSIBLE GYN-DRV RAPPROCHEMENT. ACCORDING TO INFORMATION |
RECEIVED BY THE SOURCE FROM A FRENCH ‘EMBASSY OFFICER, HO CHI MINH-HAD AT ONE Tne .
INDICATED TO A FORMER FRENCH | REPRESENTATIVE IN, NORTH: VIETNAM HIS “DISCOURAGEMENT

| OVER CASUALTIES SUSTAINED IN, TH WAR Tht THE, ‘SOUTH, Hs ‘DISTAST FOR. THE. CHINESE

PRESENCE IN THE mV, AND HIS RESTIVENESS OVER ‘SOVIET "TNTERFERENCE OF AN

UNSPECIFIED NATURE, LLALOURETE WAS RERORTED ‘TO HAVE PASSED THIS’ ON. TO" NHU, HO,

j CLASSIFICATION = T DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

| CeO-N-F-I-D-E-N-T-I-A-L | NO FOREIGN DISSE - DISSEM ABROAD/ BACKGROUND USE ONLY / —
De CONTROLLED DISSE

CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

C-O-N-F-I-D-B-N-P-1-A-L NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD TDCS DB-3/657,133

BACKGROUND. USE ONLY /CONTROLLED DISSE

ACCORDING ‘TO THE FRENCH, LEAKED IT TO JOSEPH ALSOP, THUS HETRAYING THE CONFIDENTIAL
FRENCH CONVERSATION WITH HO. ‘THE FRENCH ALLEGEDLY FEEL THIS PUT LALOUBTIE” IN’ AN
UNTENABLE POSITION; HENCE, HIS FAILURE TO RETURN TO SAIGON. 17 Is DIFFICULT To
BELIEVE THAT THE FRENCH REALLY CONSIDER ‘NEU! s “INDISCRETION" AS SERIOUS, AS THEY LET :
ON. ‘SOURCE CLAINS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MANELI TOLD NHU PRRCTICALLY THE SAME STORY
ABOUT HO'S PREOCCUPATIONS. | |

10. FIELD DISSEM. . STATE (AMBASSADOR, Dom), USMACV (HARKINS),- CINCPAC, PACFLE,
PACAF, ARPAC. | | a

BND OF MESSAGE

\

CLASSIFICATION — DISSEMINATION CONTROLS

mT: -” NO FOREIGN DISSEM/NO.DISSEM ABROAD /BACKGROUND USE BoM /
C-O-N-P-I-D-B-N-T-[-AcL CONTROLLED DISSEM.


